Chikitha Taniparthi Exits Asian Games 2026 After Narrow Loss in Archery

Chikitha Taniparthi's Quarter-Final Defeat

Indian archer Chikitha Taniparthi faced a heartbreaking one-point loss against Indonesia's Nurisa Dian Ashrifah during the compound women's individual quarter-finals at the Asian Games 2026 on Thursday, concluding her journey in the competition.

Chikitha had previously secured two gold medals on Wednesday as part of India's triumphant compound team. In a tightly contested match, she lost 143-144. Although she initially led, a critical eight in the final round proved to be a turning point. Nurisa maintained her composure to finish with 144 points, moving on to the semi-finals. Chikitha aimed to defend the gold medal won by Jyothi Surekha Vennam in the last edition, but her defeat means India will not earn a medal in the women's individual compound event.

Positive Start in Sepaktakraw

On a brighter note, India kicked off their Day 12 activities positively in sepaktakraw, achieving a 2-0 victory over Vietnam (15-12, 15-9) in their final men's quadrant Group A match. This win kept India undefeated in the group stage with two victories from two matches. They are set to face Myanmar next, with a spot in the semi-finals and a guaranteed medal on the line.

High-Stakes Clashes for Team Events

Later on Day 12, India's men's cricket and hockey teams will take center stage, both defending champions competing in the semi-finals. The cricket team, led by Shreyas Iyer, will face Sri Lanka at 10 am IST, while Harmanpreet Singh's hockey squad will take on arch-rivals Pakistan at 1 pm IST. The India-Pakistan rivalry will also be reignited in men's volleyball, with a quarter-final match scheduled for 6:30 am IST.

Other Medal Prospects on Day 12

In additional medal events, Anish Bhanwala will participate in the second stage of qualification for the men's 25m rapid fire pistol starting at 6:10 am. Ganesh Mani Ratnam Thirumuru will compete against Chinese Taipei's Chen Chieh-lun in the compound men's individual quarter-final at 9:47 am. India's squash teams are also guaranteed at least bronze medals, with the women facing Hong Kong China in the semi-finals at 7 am and the men competing against Malaysia at 1 pm.

Wrestling and Judo Campaigns Begin

Wrestlers Sumit Dalal, Aman, Nitesh Kumar, and Mansi Ahlawat will commence their respective competitions, while Yamini Mourya and Inunganbi Takhellambam will participate in judo.

India's Medal Standing

As Day 12 commenced, India was positioned eighth in the medal standings with a total of 60 medals, comprising 10 gold, 21 silver, and 29 bronze. The country has numerous opportunities to enhance its medal tally throughout a busy schedule in Aichi-Nagoya.